Action Items: Week of January 16

1.  Feeling under the weather?

Many Democrats are boycotting the inauguration, following the lead of John Lewis (D-GA).  Our own James Clyburn has said that he may not be attending the inauguration, depending on the weather.  Tell Clyburn that there's something unhealthy about this climate but it isn't rain.

Representative James Clyburn (6th District)
DC Office: (202)225-3315
Midlands Office: (803)799-1100

"Hi, I'm ______, a (constituent of Representative Clyburn/resident of South Carolina) and I would like to urge the Representative to join John Lewis and other Democrat representatives in boycotting the inauguration.  If he chooses not to attend, it's important to me that he clearly state a reason of conscience."

http://www.cnn.com/2017/01/14/politics/democrats-boycotting-donald-trump-inauguration/
http://www.thestate.com/news/politics-government/politics-columns-blogs/the-buzz/article126687174.html

2.  We don't need no education!

Betsey DeVos doesn't have any experience with public schools of any kind.  In her committee hearing yesterday she seemed to lack knowledge and understanding of the rights of students with disabilities, high profile issues in testing and proficiency, and civil rights in education. What she does have is "possibly" 200 million in family money donations to the Republican party (she didn't seem to quite be able to remember when Sanders asked her during the hearing yesterday.)  I strongly recommend that you read the articles below as just a first glance at the problems with this appointment.  Her advocacy of poorly regulated charter schools in Michigan shouldn't be the national standard.

Senator Tim Scott is on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee before which DeVos is appearing.  He also accepted campaign donations in 2016 from DeVos and her husband.  Call his office and tell him we don't want somebody with no experience in education as the Secretary of Education.

Senator Tim Scott
DC Office: (202) 224-6121
Midlands Office: (803) 771-6112

"Hi, I'm _____ and I'm a consitutent of Senator Scott from ______.  I am very concerned about Betsey DuVos' appointment as Secretary of Education.  She has no experience whatsoever in public schools or in higher education, and I am concerned that she will not protect our most vulnerable students.  I am also aware that she is one of Senator Scott's campaign donors and I am concerned about that as well.  I want to strongly urge Senator Scott to vote against her confirmation."

You can also call Lindsey Graham's office about DeVos; the Senate as a whole will vote on confirmation of all of these appointees, but the committees first get an opportunity to recommend or not.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2016/12/08/a-sobering-look-at-what-betsy-devos-did-to-education-in-michigan-and-what-she-might-do-as-secretary-of-education/?utm_term=.3b8e3e8d6958
http://www.latimes.com/nation/politics/trailguide/la-na-trailguide-updates-betsy-devos-hearing-donations-1484703816-htmlstory.html
http://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/betsy-devos-trumps-big-donor-education-secretary
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/campaign-k-12/2016/12/campaign_contributions_betsy_devos_education_secretary.html

3.  I think that I shall never see a billboard lovely as a tree

This is our first public action item submission, from Tracy Seiler.  If you have action items you'd like to submit, please use our form.

Oppose Scott Pruitt for EPA head.

CALL your senators to tell them to oppose Scott Pruitt for EPA head. His confirmation hearing is Wed., Jan. 18.

Senator Tim Scott
DC Office: (202) 224-6121
Midlands Office: (803) 771-6112

Senator Lindsey Graham
DC Office: (202) 224-5972
Midlands Office: (803) 933-0112

Hi, my name is (NAME) and I live in (CITY).
I'm calling to ask the Senator to commit to voting NO on the nomination of Scott Pruitt to head the EPA. We've worked too hard for new protections on our air, water and climate to let Pruitt dismantle them.
Thank you.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/14/us/scott-pruitt-trump-epa-pick.html?_r=0 on Pruitt's tendency to sue the EPA and act in favor of industries over regulation.
https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/07/us/politics/scott-pruitt-epa-trump.html?action=click&contentCollection=U.S.&module=RelatedCoverage&region=EndOfArticle&pgtype=article
Petition against Pruitt from the Sierra Club with more info: https://www.addup.org/campaigns/oppose-scott-pruitts-nomination-to-head-the-epa/petition/oppose-scott-pruitts-nomination-to-head-the-epa?promoid=70131000001DmnNAAS&utm_source=insider&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter&&
NDRC on Pruitt: https://www.nrdc.org/stories/scott-pruitt-wants-take-us-back-50s